Pamela, I finally read through all your Singer 12 threads.... Congrats for hanging in there. I have an old Anker transverse and had no idea how it works. Needle threading was just as iffy, but I got it set up to sew by playing with the needle position. Couldn't believe there is no set mark. In the end I lined up the top of the needle with the top of the clamp.
What a feeling when you finally get that breakthrough after it wouldn't even grab the bobbin thread at first try..... :-)
Still want to see photos of your machine :-) .